I guess this is directed to real-file Herc crews.

In watching a video, there were scenes of troop drops and equipment drops (Bradley Fighting vehicle).

OBVIOUSLY, there will be a change in weight and CG.

  1. Are these changes calculated before the flight?
  2. How pronounced is the change in immediate flight performance as the troops jump?
              (weight=(32 troops@250lb)8000lb less in under 1 minute)

Too bad there isn't a macro to simulate this.

Thanks!

Jim

Hi,

1. When heavy equipment is to be jettisoned overboard the resultant CG is calculated by the LM to ensure it will remain within limits. A very difficult situation will arise if the load becomes wedged on the way out and stops near the ramp.

2. The effect of troops jumping out of the airplane is negligible to the pilot (some trim changes will obviously be required but this is a constant thing anyway...)

regards,

I've never felt a change when dropping troops, although you can feel them shuffling to the doors during the drop :)  Yes, there can be a considerable cg change when dropping a heavy load or CDS.  The worst situation would be while dropping a heavy with multiple 28' chutes, the load gets stuck and now you have some huge airbrakes out the back.  The only place you're going is down!

Hi,

I think the Egyptian AF lost a Herc a couple of years ago due to this - a load wedged at the ramp  during heavy equipment drops...

regards,

If yuo would like to see what can go wrong have a look at this video.

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/airdrops.wmv

Dax